Magnetic recording and reproducing device



Jan. l2, 1965 Rl'rsuKo NosHlRo MAGNETIC RECORDING AND REPRCDUCING DEVICEFiled May 8, 1962 H. ...P NPP W United States Patent O 3,165,595MAGNETIC RECDRDNG AND REPRO- DUCENG DEVICE Y Ritsuko Noshiro, 657-chome, Kameido-cho, Kato-ku, Tokyo, apan Filed May 8, 1962, Ser. No.193,120 Claims priority, application Japan, Mar. 14, 1962,

37/10,131 s 1 Claim. (Cl. 179-1092) This invention relates -to amagnetic recording and reproducing device and more particularly to aminiature automatic magnetic recording and reproducing device which isprovided with an endless magnetic tape and suitable to be mounted insidethe body of a doll and the like.

As a result of rapid development and miniaturization of magneticrecording and reproducing devices in recent years it ybecomes toconsider to make attractive toys by utilizing such devices. For example,if such a device is mounted in the body of a doll in such a manner thatit will operate to record voices of man in response to such voices andimmediately reproduce them it would be able to make very attractive toysgivingimpressions to customers as if they can understand mans voice andalso can speak.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel magnetic recording andreproducing device which can fulfill above mentioned requirement.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic magneticrecording and reproducing device which is small in size and consumessmall power.

Briefly stated in accordance with this invention there is provided amagnetic recording and reproducing device comprising a microphone, anendless magnetic tape, an electric motorfor driving said magnetic tape,a magnetic head which is associated with said magnetic tape and adaptedto record and reproduce sound signals received by said microphone, meansresponsive to said sound signals received by said microphone forswitching the operation of said device between recording andreproducing, a time delay device for maintaining said means in operatingcondition for a predetermined time interval subsequent to ceasing ofsaid sound signals received by said microphones and means for energizingsaid electric motor for the same time interval as said predeterminedtime interval. Actually, suitable amplifiers, preferably a transistortype, are connected between said microphone and magnetic head andbetween said microphone and the switching means, respectively. By thisdevice it is able to automatically record sound signals for ardefiniteinterval of time and immediately reproduce them for the same interval.

While the specification concludes with the claim particularly pointingout and distinctly claiming the subject matter which are regarded asthis invention, it is believed that the invention will be betterunderstood from the iollowing description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which a single drawing illustrates a connectiondiagram of one embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing a microphone M1 is connectedto the input terminal of an amplifier 1 through a normally openedcontact S1 and a coupling condenser C1. The amplifier 1 comprisescascade connected transistors Tf1 and Trz and transistors Tr3 and T111which are connected in push-pull. The common junction between thecontact S1 and the condenser C1 is connected to a reproducing andrecording magnetic head H1 through a normally closed contact S2. Alsothe emitter electrode of the transistor Tr.1 of said amplifier 1 isconnected to said magnetic head H1 via a condenser C3 and a normallyopened contact S3. Across the output transformer of said amplifier 1 isconnected a suitable speaker Sp via a normally closed contact S4.

The microphone M1 is also connected to the input of a second amplier 2through a coupling condenser C3. This amplifier comprises a pair oftransistors Tr5 and Tr5, the output 'of which being connected via a halfwave rectifier D1 to a transistor Trq adapted to drive a relay VA whichis included in the collector circuit of the transistor Trq. One side ofsaid amplifier 2 which is connected to the negative side of a battery E1is grounded through a normally opened VContact S9 and an erasingmagnetic head H2. In order to eliminate positive half cycles of theoutput of the amplifier 2 a half wave rectifier D3 is connected acrossits output. Both of said amplifiers 1 and 2 are energized from asuitable source of direct current, indicated as a battery E1.

A pair of transistors Tr3 and Trg are provided for op` erating relays Band C which are respectively included in the collector circuits thereof.These transistors are energized from a second source of direct currentE2. A normally closed contact S5 of the relay B, a normally closedcontact S3 'of the relay A and a condenser C4 are connected in seriesacross said source E2, and the junction between said contact S5 and saidcondenser C4 is con. nected to the base electrode of the transistor Tr3through a 1r circuit comprising resistors R1, R2 and R3. Similarly, anormally opened contact S1 of the relay B and a condenser C5 areconnected in series across said direct cur-` rent source E2 and thejunction between them is connected to the base electrode of thetransistor Trg via a similar vicircuit comprising resistors R4, R5 andR5. As shown by dotted lines, in addition to control contacts S5 and S7,the relay B operates to actuate said contacts S1, S3, S3, S1 and S9. Asschematically shown in the drawing, an electric motor M for driving anendless magnetic tape T p is connected across a direct current source E3through a normally opened contact S3 of the relay C.

The magnetic recording and reproducing device embodying this inventionoperates as follows:

Since the contact S1 is normally opened voice signals produced by voicesreceived by the microphone M1 vare supplied to the amplifier 2. Afterbeing amplified by the amplifier 2 the voice signals are rectified bythe half wave rectifier D1 and supplied to the transistor Trq to renderit conductive. close its normally opened contact S5. Since at this timethe contact S5 is closed, the condenser C1 will be charged up to apotential having a polarity as shown in the drawing whereby to drive thetransistor Tra conductive. Thus, the relay B will operate to close itscontact S7 and open its contact S5 whereby the transistor Trg isrendered conductive to energize the relay C. Then the contact S3 isclosed to start the motor M to drive the endless magnetic tape Tp.

While at the same time, contacts S1, S3 and S1, are closed andthecontacts S2 and S4 are opened by the operation of the relay B, themicrophone M1 will be connected to the input terminal of the amplifier 1and the recording and reproducing magnetic head H1 to the outputterminal thereof through the coupling condenser C3. As a result of thisthe voice signals are amplified in the amplifier 1 to supply recordingsignals to the magnetic head H1 to record them upon the endless magnetictape Tp which is now continuously driven by the direct current motor M.While at this time the series circuit including the contact S5 is openedby the opening thereof, the input voltage to the transistor Tr3 ismaintained for an interval of time as determined by the time constantdetermined by the condenser C4 and resistors R1, R3 and R3 so that thetransistor Tra will be maintained conductive for a predetermined timeinterval to maintain the relay B in the operated condition. When thedevice is designed such that said time constant is equal to the timerequired vfor the endless mag- 3,l5,595` Patented Jan. 12, 11965k Thiswill cause to operate the relay A to oneness netic tape Tp to completeone revolution, voice signals will be recorded during said timeinterval. Moreover, as the magnetic head H2 is connected to the batteryEl through the now closed Contact S9, all the signals which wererecorded on the magnetic tape Tp during the previous operation areerased, thus causing no disturbance to the new recording operation. Atthe end of said recording period the relay B is deenergizcd to restoreits various contacts to their original positions as shown in thedrawing. Thus, closure of the contact S2 will connect tbe magnetic headH1 to the input side of the amplifier l, and closure of the contact S4will connect the speaker Sp -to the output side Vof the amplifier,whereby the device is now ready for reproducing to cause the speaker toreproduce voices which have been recorded as above described.

As in the case of the transistor Trg, subsequent to the opening of thecontact S7, conduction of the transistor Trq, or the operation of therelay C is maintained for a predetermined interval 'of timewhich isdetermined by the value of the condenser C5 and resistors R4, R5 and R6so that the endless tape Tp will stop automatically after running onecomplete revolution. During this interval of reproduction voices Vwhichare identical to those collected by the microphone Mi are reproducedcontinuously for the same time interval.

As can be noted from the above description this invention providesautomatic magnetic recording and reproducing device which is small insize, light in weight and consumes small power by eiiecting switchingoperation etween driving of the endless tape, recording and reproducingby means 'of a relay actuated by the incoming sounds.

While the magnetic recording and reproducing device according to thisinvention may be used for general purposes they are particularlysuitable for incorporating into dolls and toys to improve theircommercial value.

While the invention has been explained by describing a particularembodiment thereof, it will be apparent that improvements andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

A small magnetic recording and reproducing device for reproducing shortsound sequences uttered by children, comprising in combination;

a microphone responsive to a childs voice;

a first amplifier to amplify the output from the microphone including ahalf wave rectifier, a first transistor biased by the half waverectifier to render it conductive, a first contact normally open, whichis closed by said first transistor becoming conductive;

capacitor-resistor time means, responsive tosaid first contact andproviding an output for a prefixed time;

a second transistor responsive to said capacitor-resistor time means anda second contact normally open, responsive to said second transistor,said second Contact being closed for said prefixed time in response tosaid capacitor-resistor time means output;

motor means responsive to said second contact, an endless tapecyclically driven by said motor means, one cycle corresponding to saidprefixed time;

a first magnetic head including a lead line for coupling to a powersource with a third contact responsive to said second contact, saidfirst magnetic head being disposed to erase any prior sound on saidtape;

a second amplifier coupled to said microphone output;

a second magnetic head responsive to said second amplifier acting onsaid endless tape, recording sound signals thereon when coupled to theoutput side thereof and, reproducing said sound signals thereof whencoupled to the input side thereof;

first and second switch means connected to said second contact the firstswitch means being normally opened and being closed by said secondcontact for said prexed time to couple said second magnetic recordinghead to said second amplifier output side, sa'id second switch meansbeing normally closed, for coupling said second magnetic recording headto said second amplifier input side and being opened by said secondcontact, and,

speaker means coupled to said second amplifier means and a fourthcontact responsive to said second contact and second switch meansenabling said speaker after the end of said prefixed time to provide thesignal recorded on said tape during said time period after said prefixedtime period has ceased.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,527,145 10/50Mitchell 179-100.1

IRVING L. SRAGOW, Primary Examiner.

